Despite its glitzy debut, pricey virtual reality technologies have yet to catch on with consumers. However, VR has found a niche in business training.

An attendee works with a dental training device at the Virtual Reality World Congress in Bristol, U.K., in April.According to the Wall Street Journal, stores like Walmart will buy VR headsets for nearly all of its training centers in the next few days. Employees will learn how to handle real-life situations with customers by practicing in a VR-simulated world. For example, VR training helps employees learn how to scan store items and talk to dissatisfied customers. Other companies, like Oshkosh, are using VR training to teach employees how to use dangerous machinery without putting them in a risky atmosphere.

Even the NFL has started using VR to train both players and officials in public relations. The practice is geared toward refining the interview process, so that real-life interviews will be free from all biases. VR use is also spreading quickly in medicine. By mapping virtual models of the brain, doctors can plan neurosurgeries more effectively.

Although VR innovations have helped many businesses, the technology still has its shortcomings. Many people find that putting on headsets gives them motion sickness – another reason why VR has not caught on commercially. In addition, since VR headsets shield the eyes from the hands, jobs that rely on manual dexterity cannot benefit from VR training.
As time progresses, VR will likely become cheaper and more widespread with consumers. If its growing usage in businesses is any indication, it might be time to familiarize yourself with the basics of the technology.
Text image via The Wall Street Journal.